Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was transferred from a Gujarat jail to Mandoli jail in Delhi in the early hours of Thursday. The transfer was carried out in connection with a case related to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Bishnoi, a prominent gangster, was brought to Delhi by a domestic flight at 1:30 am and handed over to the NIA for interrogation.
The decision to shift Bishnoi to Mandoli jail instead of Tihar jail, where he was initially supposed to be taken, was made due to security and safety concerns. This move follows the recent alleged murder of gangster Tillu Tajpuriya inside Tihar prison on May 2.
The Gujarat Police’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had obtained custody of Bishnoi in April. They intended to question him regarding his potential involvement in a case of cross-border drug smuggling. Last year, the Gujarat coast witnessed the seizure of 40 kilograms of heroin worth over ₹200 crore from a Pakistani fishing boat in the Arabian Sea. Bishnoi’s alleged links to this smuggling operation were of interest to the ATS.
Bishnoi, who was also arrested by the Punjab police last year in connection with the murder case of Punjabi singer Siddhu Moosewala, has been involved in various criminal activities. Furthermore, on Monday, the Delhi Police’s special cell unit apprehended Yogesh alias Himanshu, an alleged member of the Bishnoi-Gogi gang, after a brief encounter near the Britannia Chowk flyover. Yogesh had been evading arrest for three years following an attempt to murder case.
The transfer of Lawrence Bishnoi to Mandoli jail signifies the gravity of the NIA’s investigation into his alleged involvement in criminal activities. The authorities are taking precautions to ensure his safety while in custody, especially considering recent incidents within the prison system.
